Jacob Kettler, Duke of Courland.

Jacob Kettler (German: Jakob von Kettler; 28 October 1610 – 1 January 1682) was a Baltic German Duke of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1641–1682). Under his rule, the duchy was brought to its greatest peak in wealth and engaged in colonization. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Coat of arms of Courland Courland (Latvian: ; German: ; Latin: Curonia / Couronia; Lithuanian: ; Estonian: ; Polish: ; Russian: ) is an historical Baltic province now part of Latvia. ... October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 64 days remaining. ... // Events January 7 - Galileo Galilei discovers the Galilean moons of Jupiter. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... Events March 11 – Chelsea hospital for soldiers is founded in England May 6 - Louis XIV of France moves his court to Versailles. ... The Baltic Germans (German: Deutsch-Balten, Deutschbalten, sometimes incorrectly Baltendeutsche), were ethnically German inhabitants of the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea which forms today the countries of Estonia and Latvia. ... A duke is a nobleman, historically of highest rank and usually controlling a duchy or dukedom. ... The Duchy of Courland as a part of The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1772 (above, yellow). ... The small wealthy former duchy of Courland took part in European colonialism. ...

Life

Kettler was born in Goldingen (Kuldīga). He was the godson of King James I of England. Under Kettler's rule, the duchy traded with nations like the Netherlands, Portugal, England, and France. In 1651 he sent a fleet to build Fort Jacob on the Gambia River on the island that would later be known as St. Andrews in West Africa. In 1654 he conquered Tobago with the Das Wappen der Herzogin von Kurland, a double decker ship which was armed with 45 cannons and carried 25 officials, 124 Courlander soldiers ,and 80 families of colonists. The colony on Tobago was named Neu Kurland ("New Courland"). KuldÄ«ga (German: Goldingen) is a town in western Latvia. ... A godparent, in some denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a childs baptism. ... James VI and I (James Stuart) (June 19, 1566 – March 27, 1625) was King of Scots, King of England, and King of Ireland. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... For the fort in New York City that once bore the name Fort James see: Fort Amsterdam James Island is an island in the Gambia River, 30km from the river mouth and near Juffureh in the country of The Gambia. ... Gambia River in the Niokolo-Koba National Park The Gambia River is a major river in Africa, running 1,130 km (700 miles) from the Fouta Djallon plateau in north Guinea westward to the Atlantic Ocean at the city of Banjul. ... See St Andrews, New South Wales for St Andrews, Sydney, Australia. ...  Western Africa (UN subregion)  Maghreb[1] West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. ... Castara village beach looking south, Tobago Tobago is the smaller of the two main islands that make up the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. ... A small cannon on a carriage, Bucharest. ...

The duke was taken prisoner by the Swedes from 1658 to 1660, during the Northern Wars. During this time, his colonies were attacked and lost and his fleet destroyed. After the war ended, he rebuilt the duchy's fleet, and retook the island of Tobago from the Dutch. Some believe he also intended to colonize Australia, which had at that time been discovered and claimed by the Dutch whom he was at war with. He supposedly had the blessing of Pope Innocent X. However, the pope soon died, and the new pope was unwilling to support the plan. The duke died in Mitau (Jelgava) on 1 January 1682. King Charles X of Sweden The Northern Wars (1655-1661) is a name sometimes used for the series of conflicts between Sweden and its adversaries Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (The Deluge, 1655-1660), Russia (1656-1661), Brandenburg-Prussia (1657-1660), the Holy Roman Empire (1657-60) and Denmark (1657-1658, 1658... Innocent X, born Giovanni Battista Pamphili (May 6, 1574 – January 7, 1655) was Pope from 1644 to 1655. ... Jelgava (German: Mitau; Russian: Елгава / Митава; Polish: Mitawa) is a town in central Latvia about 41 km southwest of Riga with approximately 66,000 inhabitants. ... January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... Events March 11 – Chelsea hospital for soldiers is founded in England May 6 - Louis XIV of France moves his court to Versailles. ...

Issue

Kettler married Louise Charlotte of Brandenburg (1617–1676), the daughter of George William, Elector of Brandenburg and had issue: George William (German: Georg Wilhelm) (13 November 1595 - December 1, 1640) of the Hohenzollern dynasty was margrave and elector of Brandenburg and duke of Prussia (1619-1640). ...

• Louise Elisabeth (1646-1690) - married Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg
• Frederick II Casimir Kettler (1650-1698)
• Charlotta (1651-1728)
• Maria Amalia (1653-1711) - married Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel
• Ferdinand (1655-1737)

Landgrave Karl I von Hessen-Kassel Karl I von Hessen-Kassel (Kassel, August 3, 1654 - March 23, 1730) was from 1675 till his death Landgrave of Hessen-Kassel. ...

External links

• History of Courland during Kettler's rule
• Coinage of Jacob Kettler